Holder board for bingo games

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a holder for supporting a plurality of bingo cards in full view of the player to facilitate the simultaneous playing of several cards. The holder has a pair of foldable sections which open to form an A-shaped structure having longitudinal card retaining flanges on each side and wires on which are strung bingo markers. In another embodiment, the foldable sections open into a planar configuration including an upper and a lower section. A pair of legs are attached to the upper section by snap-on hinges. In this embodiment, the legs maintain the sections in an inclined bingo card supporting condition.

United States Patent 11 1 Burns HOLDER BOARD FOR BINGO GAMES [75] Inventor: John J. Burns, Ogden, Utah [73] Assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates, Inc., New York, NY. a part interest 22 Filed: July 15, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 488,462

[52] U5. Cl. 273/136 E; 273/136 G [51] Int. Cl. A63F 3/06 [58] Field of Search 273/135 B, 136 D, 136 G, 273/148 R, 148 A, 150, DIG. 26, 136 E;

Taylor 273/136 G X [451 July 22,1975

Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle [57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a holder for supporting a plurality of bingo cards in full view of the player to facilitate the simultaneous playing of several cards. The holder has a pair of foldable sections which open to form an A- shaped structure having longitudinal card retaining flanges on each side and wires on which are strung bingo markers In another embodiment, the foldable sections open into a planar configuration including an upper and a lower section. A pair of legs are attached to the upper section by snap-on hinges. In this embodiment, the legs maintain the sections in an inclined bingo card supporting condition.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1 HOLDER BOARD FOR BINGO GAMES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention is concerned with a two-sided foldable holder for removably carrying on at least one side a number of bingo cards whereby effecting a saving of space near the players and facilitating the simultaneous playing of several cards.

Bingo players often play several cards at once during a given game. Usually the cards are disposed on a relatively small area shared by several players. These two factors having several cards to watch and the lack of elbow room lead to errors in play.

2. State of the Art The art to which this invention relates already is aware, inter alia, of the following U.S. Pat. Nos., 1,996,234; 2,066,238; 2,400,296; 2,520,490; and 2,665,916. The structures described in the just mentioned patents are not specifically designed for carrying bingo cards or capable of so doing.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device or article of this character which combines simplicity, strength and durability in a high degree, together with inexpensiveness of construction.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention, wherein like reference character identify the same or like parts:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a holder embodying the features of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment.

With reference to the drawing, there is shown and illustrated a bingo card holder constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention and desig nated generally by reference character 10.

Referring to the drawing, the holder of the invention in its simplest form shown in FIG. 1 includes a pair of panels 12 and 14 which may be of hardwood, plastic such as polystyrene, heavy cardboard, pressed cork, light metal such as for example but without limitation aluminum. Panels 12 and 14 are hinged together in their upper part by hinges l6 and 18 and are foldable. A carrying handle 20 is cut out from each of the hinged panels substantially midway between the hinges.

One or more positioning finger 22 is provided between the panels so as to give the holder an A-shape when viewed endwise. Finger 22 is hinged to one panel 12 and fits in a slot 23 in the other panel.

Panels 12 and 14 have at their lower end a longitudinal upturned flange or flap 24 formed integrally or secured thereto by gluing or otherwise. This flap constitutes a card-reception member which can be about A inch wide.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, each panel was 24 inches long and inches high.

A wire 28 is disposed along the top and the bottom of each panel. Strung on the wires are beads 32 and tabs 34 which are numbered from 1 to 75. The beads and tabs are slidable on wire 28. This enables the player to keep track of the numbers called in addition to crossing them off on the bingo cards. The holder just described holds 3 cards on a side and is designed for use by two players who face each other.

FIG. 2 shows a larger version of the invention designed to hold 6 cards. The holder shown in FIG. 2 comprises a pair of panels 36 and 38 hinged by hinges 40 and 42. These panels are formed of the same materials as in the embodiment of FIG. 1. The panels are foldable along fold line 44 for storage. Each panel has a card receiving tongue and groove assembly 46 in its lower section. The panels are supported during use by a pair of removably secured legs 48 by means of snapon hinges 50 which fit on the top of upper panel 36. At least one of the legs 48 has a positioning finger 52 hinged to it and extending horizontally into a slot 54 in lower panel 38 to hold the panels up, as shown in FIG. 2. A wire 56 is disposed in the upper part of panel 36 on which are strung beads 32 and tabs 34, for the purpose previously mentioned.

It will be obvious that instead of legs 48 there may be hinged to top panel 36 a pair of panels similar to panels 36 and 38 so as to provide a holder usable by two players seated across a table.

It will be appreciated that the present holders need no clips or the like to grip the cards. Another advantageous feature of the invention is that the holders can be folded to store them flat when not in use.

The operation and use of the invention hereinabove described will be evident to those skilled in the art to which it relates from a consideration of the foregoing.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A holder for bingo cards and the like, comprising in combination: upper and lower panels hinged along their contiguous longitudinal edges and foldable on one another; a tongue and groove assembly extending along substantially the entire length of the lower portion of each of said panels for receiving and holding said cards therein; a wire for carrying bingo markers, said wire being secured to the upper part of said upper panel; a pair of legs of equal length for supporting said panels at an angle from the horizontal during use; snap-on hinges on the top of said upper panel for removably securing said legs thereto; at least one of said legs having a positioning finger extending therefrom; said lower panel having a slot receiving said finger to hold the assembly of said legs and said panels in a generally A- shaped configuration.

2. The holder of claim 1, having a carrying handle mounted on one of said panels. 

1. A holder for bingo cards and the like, comprising in combination: upper and lower panels hinged along their contiguous longitudinal edges and foldable on one another; a tongue and groove assembly extending along substantially the entire length of the lower portion of each of said panels for receiving and holding said cards therein; a wire for carrying bingo markers, said wire being secured to the upper part of said upper panel; a pair of legs of equal length for supporting said panels at an angle from the horizontal during use; snap-on hinges on the top of said upper panel for removably securing said legs thereto; at least one of said legs having a positioning finger extending therefrom; said lower panel having a slot receiving said finger to hold the assembly of said legs and said panels in a generally A-shaped configuration.
 2. The holder of claim 1, having a carrying handle mounted on one of said panels. 